Bosnia has been going through its worst political crisis since the end of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, with Bosnian Serbs challenging state institutions as part of their longtime bid to secede, emboldened by at least tacit support from Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gives a news conference ahead of video conference with foreign and defense ministers, at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium May 31, 2021. REUTERS
On Wednesday, NATO foreign ministers sought to reassure weaker nations in Russia’s neighborhood that they feared Russia may destabilize as the Ukraine crisis dragged on, limiting energy supplies and driving up costs.
The Western Balkans, particularly Bosnia, and two former Soviet republics, Moldova and Georgia, all of which have breakaway portions controlled by Russian forces, were the main topics of discussion on the second day of a NATO foreign ministers meeting.
NATO allies on Wednesday pledged to help Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as they face pressure from Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and ministers said.
“If there is one lesson from Ukraine it is that we need to support them now,” Stoltenberg told a news conference.
“They are affected from Russian influence in different ways, but better to support them now rather than see developments that go absolutely in the wrong direction as we saw with the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.”
For Bosnia, he said: “I think to be able to resist attempts of Russian interference and influence, one of the most important things to be done is to complete formation of government after elections.”
Bosnia has been going through its worst political crisis since the end of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, with Bosnian Serbs challenging state institutions as part of their longtime bid to secede, emboldened by at least tacit support from Russia.
